"Maybe I didn't always know what I was doing, but I knew I had something to say."

Every story has a first sentence — a soft beginning that doesn't always know it's the beginning.
This is mine.

I'm not entirely sure when I started calling myself a writer. There wasn't a dramatic moment. No spotlight. No sudden lightning bolt of clarity. Just a slow build — notes scribbled on the backs of worksheets, stories written in my head during bus rides, characters who felt more like friends than ideas.

Maybe you've been following my work for a while. Maybe this is your first time reading something of mine. Either way, I want this book to feel like a quiet conversation — the kind you have in comfy clothes, past midnight, with someone who makes you feel safe.

This chapter? It's a soft hello. A cup of something warm. A gentle unraveling.

I never thought I'd be the kind of person to write a book about myself. And yet, here I am—curled up with a cup of something warm, trying to find the right words to explain who I am to you. Maybe this is more of a conversation than a story. Maybe it's both.

So, let me start simply.

Hi, I'm Aria . I'm a writer, a dreamer, and a full-time collector of fictional emotions. I live somewhere between cozy playlists, blank Google Docs, and way too many tabs open at once. I love storytelling in all its forms—whether it's a one-shot fic that makes you cry at 2 a.m. or a character that feels more real than reality.

Writing has always been my favorite way of saying what I can't out loud. I was never the loudest voice in the room, but on paper? I could say anything. I could be anyone. And somewhere along the way, I realized that other people felt the same way reading my words.

This book isn't about being perfect. It's about being honest. It's about sharing the messy, funny, chaotic, passionate pieces that make me... me. From my projects and ideas to the fandoms I fangirl over, from the things that keep me up at night to the small joys that bring me back to life.

To make things a little more fun, here's a mini get-to-know-me:

✦ A Mini Q&A With Myself

Q: What made you want to write this book?
A: I've always loved putting pieces of myself into stories, but I've never really paused to collect those pieces in one place. This is that place.

Q: Three words that describe your vibe?
A: Soft, scattered, sincere. (And maybe a little dramatic.)

Q: What do you hope readers feel when they read this?
A: Like they've found something familiar — or someone who just gets it.

✦ Three Truths & One Lie

(Can you guess the lie?)

I once wrote 7,000 words in one night.

I have a playlist for every character I've ever created.

I love editing more than drafting.

I cried while writing a fictional goodbye between two characters.

Three truths & a lie (guess which one):

I've cried while writing fanfiction.

My favorite comfort food is ramen.

I've accidentally deleted an entire draft before.

I've never had a favorite character die on me.

This book isn't going to be polished or perfect.
It's not trying to be.

It's a love letter to the things that shaped me — the stories, the chaos, the people, and the passion that keeps pulling me back to the page.

So welcome in.
You don't need to know everything about me to be here.
You just need to be curious.
And maybe a little emotionally unstable — I won't judge.

This is the beginning of something a little raw and a little magical. Thanks for turning to the first page. Let's turn the page together.